How to pronounce backslash
Say it like BAK-slash. Backslash has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAK).
- BAK
- slash
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Backslash pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- slashGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of backslash
American and British speakers say backslash in essentially the same way: /ˈbækˌslæʃ/ in the US and /ˈbækˌslæʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAK-slash.
What does backslash mean?
- The punctuation mark \ (a left-leaning diagonal line). (Common uses include (1) use as a delimiter in filepaths and (2) use as an escape character to mark literals.)
- The punctuation mark /; a slash, forward slash.
- To escape (a metacharacter) by prepending a backslash that serves as an escape character, thereby forming an escape sequence.
Where does backslash come from?
From back + slash, because it is a slash “leaning back” against the direction of writing (in writing lines from left to right), in contrast to the more common (forward) slash / (“solidus, oblique, diagonal”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying backslash
How do you pronounce backslash?
Say BAK-slash. The American pronunciation is /ˈbækˌslæʃ/. In British English it is /ˈbækˌslæʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in backslash?
Backslash has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAK). Broken into parts: BAK · slash.
Do Americans and Brits say backslash the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbækˌslæʃ/ and the British form is /ˈbækˌslæʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.